Disk recording and reproducing device

ABSTRACT

A disk clamping mechanism for disk recording and reproducing devices of the type in which when a disk cartridge with a disk enclosed therein is inserted into the device the disk clamping mechanism is actuated to clamp the raised groove guard formed around the rim of the disk so that when the cartridge is pulled out of the device the disk remains therein. The clamping mechanism includes a pair of clamping fingers with projections adapted for engagement with the groove guard when the forces pulling out the cartridge are transmitted to the disk. A linkage or a mechanism comprising a wedge and tapered surfaces is operatively connected to the clamping fingers in such a way that when a pulling force is exerted on the disk and the clamping fingers, the linkage or mechanism causes the clamping arms or fingers to move further toward each other, thus exerting a stronger clamping force on the disk.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a disk recording and reproducing deviceand, more particularly, a device for playing disks which are normallyenclosed in protective cartridges.

2. The Prior Art

There have been devised and used various disk recording and reproducingdevices of the type in which, when a cartridge with a disk enclosedtherein is inserted through an insertion slot into the device, a diskclamping means is actuated to clamp the groove guard formed around therim of the disk while the cartridge is being pulled out of the device,so that the disk is pulled out of the cartridge.

In general, the disk cartridge is manually inserted into or pulled outof the disk recording and reproducing device, so that the cartridge isfrequently bent, especially when it is pulled out of the device. As aresult, the ridge-shaped groove guard of the disk is forced against theinner surfaces of the cartridge, so that frictional forces are exertedon the disk to pull it out of the clamping mechanism. If the disk ispulled out of the clamping mechanism, not only the disk but also therecording and reproducing device are damaged. However, there has not yetbeen proposed a mechanism to prevent undesired release of the disk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to solve the above and otherproblems encountered in prior art disk recording and reproducing devicesof the type described above.

A disk clamping mechanism in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a base which is secured to the main body of a disk recordingand reproducing device and a means which is adapted to receive thepulling forces exerted on a cartridge and which has a finger or fingersconnected to a rotating member or linkages and adapted to clamp thegroove guard of the disk in the cartridge, whereby when the cartridge ispulled out, said rotating member is rotated, so that the clamping forcesof the fingers are increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art disk cartridge which is usedin the present invention, part of the main body of the cartridge beingbroken away;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrates that the cover of theprior art disk cartridge is attached to the main body thereof and a diskis enclosed therein;

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are front, top and side views, respectively, of thecover of the prior art disk cartridge;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a prior art diskreproducing device;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view, on enlarged scale, of the diskreproducing device shown in FIG. 4 illustrating major components;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the disk reproducing device shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are side views of an engaging member and its associatedparts of the disk reproducing device shown in FIG. 4, and are used toexplain the mode of operation of the engaging member;

FIG. 8A is a partial top view of the disk reproducing device shown inFIG. 4;

FIG. 8B is a partial side view of the disk reproducing device shown inFIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the disk reproducing device shown in FIG. 4,and is used to explain how a disk cartridge is manually pulled out ofthe disk reproducing device;

FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13A and 13B are side views showing first to fifthpreferred embodiments, respectively, of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 10; and

FIGS. 15, 16, 17, 18A and 18B are side views used to explain the mode ofoperation of the first embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a disk recording and reproducing deviceof the type in which when a disk cartridge is inserted into the device,a disk which is enclosed in the cartridge is automatically extracted outof the cartridge and placed at the drive position: while when thecartridge is pulled out of the device, the disk is automaticallyenclosed within the cartridge. The present invention has for its objectto improve the reliability of operation of the disk cartridge,especially in the step of pulling the disk out of it. The presentinvention will be described first in conjunction with the prior art diskcartridges and recording and reproducing devices, to both of which thepresent invention can be applied.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 there is shown a disk cartridge which can be usedwith a disk recording and reproducing device in accordance with thepresent invention. A disk cartridge generally indicated by the referencenumeral 1 is rectangular in shape and comprises the main body 2 and thecover 3, which can be detachably attached to the open end of the mainbody 3. The cartridge 1 is pushed into the recording and reproducingdevice in the direction indicated by the arrow X_(l) in FIG. 1. Both themain body 2 and cover 3 can be made of, for instance, polystyreneplastics.

The main body 2 comprises a pair of upper and lower halves or parts 4aand 4b which can be cast or otherwise formed with the same mold and aresecurely joined together with an adhesive. The upper and lower halves 4aand 4b define a disk storage space 5 which is almost flat and equal indimension to the main body 2 (the height of the storage space 5 beingalmost equal to the thickness of a disk 6 which is enclosed within thisspace 5). The storage space 5 has a front opening 7 and three side walls9, 10 and 11. The main body 2 is symmetrical about the center line l andabout the plane containing it.

Each of the upper and lower halves 4a and 4b comprises a flat portion 8which has two parallel elongated grooves 17 (which serve to cause "ahinge-action" as will be described below) and three side edge portions9, 10 and 11. As best shown in FIG. 1, the upper and lower halves 4a and4b are provided with two engaging slots 12 which are opened adjacent tothe front end of the flat portion 8 and are symmetrical about the centerline l. The slots 12 are adapted to engage with expanding arms to bedescribed in detail below. The flat portion 8 is also provided with arecess 13 for engagement with a projection of the cover 3 to bedescribed in detail below. The front end of the flat portion 8 hastapered portions 14 which are symmetrical about the center line l andserve to guide the expanding arms. The flat portion 8 has a block orridge portion 15 which extends a predetermined distance from the rearend of the flat portion in parallel with the center line l and spacedapart therefrom by a predetermined distance in the transverse direction.The front end of the block or ridge portion 15 is adapted to engage withthe rim of the disk 6. The inner walls of the side edges 9 and 10 areformed with recesses 16 which are adjacent to the open front end of themain body and are for engagement with projections of the cover 3 whichwill be described in detail below. The upper and lower halves 4a and 4bwith the above-described construction are securely joined together withan adhesive which is wholly or partially applied to the mating surfacesof the side edges 9, 10 and 11 of the upper and lower halves 4a and 4b.

The cover 3 has a plurality of front wall or flange portions 18 whichare transversely spaced apart from each other as best shown in FIG. 3Aand are adapted to partly close the opening 7 of the main body 2 whenthe cover 3 is attached thereto. The front end or edge of the cover 3 isalso formed with notches or recesses 19 which are symmetrical about thecenter line l and into which are inserted the expanding arms; and guidegrooves 20 which are also symmetrical about the center line l and thehorizontal center plane of the cover 3 and which comprises (i) a taperedportion 27 adapted to guide a disk-clamping arm to be described belowand (ii) a thin-wall portion 28 which is less in thickness than thegroove guard portion of the disk 6. The projections 21 are extended fromboth the upper and lower surfaces of the cover 3 in line with the centerline l for engagement with the recesses 13 of the main body 2. As bestshown in FIG. 3B, the cover 3 has further inwardly (that is, toward thecenter line l ) tapered side edge portions 22 and rearwardly directedtapered portions 23, both of which serve to guide the insertion of thecover 3 into the main body 2. The cover 3 is further provided withelastic arms 25 with projections 24 which are adapted to engage with therecesses 16 of the main body 2 so as to securely hold the cover 3relative to the main body 2. The front ends of the arms 25 areterminated into tapered portions 26 for engagement with releasing meansto be described below.

FIG. 2 shows the disk cartridge 1 which is the assembly of theabove-described main body 2 and cover 3 with the disk 6 enclosed.Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the rim of the disk 6 enclosed in the mainbody 2 is engaged with the front ends of the disk blocks or ridges 15 sothat the backward movement of the disk 6 is limited. Transversemovements of the disk 6 are prevented by the side edges 9 and 10 of themain body. The cover 3 is inserted into the main body 2 through thefront opening 7, which is defined by the upper and lower halves 4a and4b as described above. Then the projections 24 engage the recesses 16 ofthe main body 2 while the projections 21 engage the recesses 13. (Theflat portions 8 of the upper and lower halves 4a and 4b of the main body2 are elastically spaced apart from each other.) When the cover 3 isfully inserted into the main body 2, the front wall or flange portions18 of the cover 3 partially close the front opening 7 of the main body(See FIG. 3A).

When the cover 3 is attached to the main body 2 in the manner describedabove, the rim of the disk 6 engages an arcuate rear edge 29 of thecover 3 so that the disk 6 is prevented from falling from or beingpulled away from the main body 2 through the front opening 7 thereof.The portion of the cover 3 which is inserted into the main body 2 issubstantially equal in thickness to the height of the flat disk storagespace 5, so that the disk 6 is also prevented from falling through thespaces between the main body 2 and the cover 3 inserted therein.

The construction of the cover 3 is shown in detail in FIG. 3. It is seenthat the spacing between the rim of the disk 6 and the arcuate rear edgeof the cover 3 gradually increases from the center (where the spacing ais minimum) toward the ends of the arcuate rear edge 29 (where thespacing is b). The reason for this invention is so that even when thecover 3 and the disk 6 are transversely displaced relative to each otherin the directions indicated by the double-pointed arrow Y, stable driveof the disk 6 may be ensured in the reproduction or recording mode.

The fundamental construction of a prior art reproducing device for usewith the disk cartridges of the type described above is shown in FIGS. 4to 9. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the general constructionthereof; FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a major portion thereof; Fig. 6 isa sectional view of FIG. 4; FIGS. 7A and 7B are partial views thereofused to explain the mode of operation thereof; FIGS. 8A and 8B show thedisk 6 and cover 3, respectively, which are clamped; and FIG. 9 is aview used to explain in more detail FIGS. 8A and 8B.

The reproducing device, generally indicated by the reference numeral 50,has a mechanism 51 for enlarging the front end opening 7 of the mainbody 2 of the disk cartridge 1, a turntable 52 upon which is placed thedisk 6, a disk-clamping mechanism 53, and a cover locking mechanism 54.

The mechanism 51 for enlarging the front end opening 7 (to be referredto as "the opening increasing mechanism" for brevity in thisspecification) is positioned adjacent to a disk-cartridge insertion slot55 of the reproducing device 50 and is guided by a pair of guide rails56 for the longitudinal direction indicated by the arrow X₁ or X₂. Theopening increasing mechanism 51 comprises a pair of vertically spacedupper and lower beams 57 and 58 which extend transversely of thereproducing device 50. The upper and lower beams 57 and 58 are pivotablyconnected at their ends with pivot pins 57a and 58a to sleds 51a whichslide along the guide rails 56. The upper and lower beams 57 and 58 havetwo pairs of expansion arms 59 as best shown in FIG. 4. When the upperand lower beams 57 and 58 are located adjacent to the disk-cartridgeinsertion slot 55, the expansion arms 59 cross each other, as best shownin FIG. 6, under the forces of leaf springs 60. But when the upper andlower beams 57 and 58 are displaced in the direction indicated by X₁,rollers 61, which are rotatably attached to the upper and lower beams 57and 58, ride over the tapered rear ends 62 of the guide rails 56 andthen over the flat or horizontal top surfaces thereof so that the upperand lower beams 57 and 58 are rotated about the pivot pins 57a and 58a,respectively, and are maintained in parallel with each other. As aresult, the expansion arms 59 are spaced apart from each other.

The disk-clamping mechanism 53 is located adjacent to the rear end wallof the reproducing device 50 and has a lower clamping arm 63 and anupper clamping arm 64. The clamping arms 63 and 64 pass through theguide grooves 20 of the cover 3 of the disk cartridge 1 when the latteris inserted into the reproducing device 50, and the clamping arms 63 and64 are inserted into the cartridge 1 so that the clamping arms 63 and 64clamp the disk 6 at two points. The lower clamping arm 63 has twoclamping pads 63a and is pivotably supported by an upper shaft 65 whichin turn is supported by a pair of horizontal arm portions 73a of anL-shaped support 73. The lower clamping arm 63 is operatively connectedto a sliding plate 118 which in turn is driven by a cam plate 115 to bedescribed in detail below. The lower clamping arm 63 is normally biasedunder the force of a spring (not shown) so as to rotate in the directionindicated by the arrow C. The upper clamping arm 64 comprises armportions 64a, clamping pads 64b at the free ends of the arm portions 64aand a stopper pin 64c attached to the rear end of the clamping arm 64.The arm 64 is pivotably supported by the upper shaft 65.

The reproducing device 50 has two cover locking mechanisms 54 and 54awhich are located symmetrically of the longitudinal center line or axisof the device 50 and are identical in construction and mode ofoperation. It suffices, therefore, to explain only one mechanism 54. Theparts of the other mechanism 54a are designated by similar referencenumerals with a suffix a. The locking lever 70 is substantially in theform of a U in cross section (See 54a) and is pivotably connected with apivot pin 71 to a push lever 72 which in turn is pivotably connectedwith a pivot pin 74 to the L-shaped support 73, and is normally biasedunder the force of a spring (not shown) in the direction indicated bythe arrow G. The lower horizontal portion or arm of the locking lever 70has a cam groove 75 which slidably receives a fixed pin or cam follower76 extended from the support 73. Therefore, as the push lever 72 swingsabout its pivot pin 74, the locking lever 70 is caused to swing in thedirection E or F in FIG. 4. A push or pressure plate 77 (See FIG. 8A) issecurely attached to the push lever 72 for engagement with the frontwall or flange portion 18 of the cover 3. A releasing means 80 which issecurely attached to the support 73 is adapted to engage with thetapered portion 26 of the cover 3 (See FIG. 1). Referring particularlyto FIG. 5, an L-shaped locking cam 85 which is pivotably connected tothe support 73 with a pivot pin 81 has one arm formed with a cam groove83 and an engaging projection 84 and the other arm with an engaging pin82. The locking cam 85 is normally biased under the force of a spring85a to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow H. A locking pin78 which rotatably interconnects the push levers 72 and 72a is slidablyfitted into an L-shaped cam groove 83a of the locking cam 85. A releaselever 87 is pivotably connected at its lower end with a pivot pin 86 tothe support 73 and is normally biased under the force of a spring 89 inthe direction indicated by the arrow K in FIG. 5. The upper end of therelease lever 87 engages the upper shaft 65 so that the angle ofrotation of the release lever 87 in the direction K the (clockwisedirection) in FIG. 5 is limited. One end of an auxiliary or connectinglever 90 is pivotably connected with a pin 88 to the release lever 87 sothat when the release lever 72 is swung in the direction indicated bythe arrow M, the auxiliary or connecting lever 90 is displaced in thedirection indicated by the arrow J. The connecting lever 90 has anelongated groove at the other end thereof and the engaging pin 82 of thelocking cam 85 is slidably fitted into this elongated groove. Anengaging member 92 is pivotably connected with a pivot pin 91 to therelease lever 87 at the position adjacent to the upper end thereof, andis biased under the force of a bias spring 93 loaded between the pushlever 72 and the engaging member 92. Depending upon the position ormovement of the push lever 72, the engaging member 92 assumes theposition as shown in FIG. 7A in which the bias spring 93 is shown asbeing compressed, or the position as shown in FIG. 7B in which thespring 93 is shown as being expanded.

The turntable 52 is drivingly coupled through a boss 101 to a motor 100(See FIG. 6). A disk positioning means which is disposed coaxially ofand is vertically movable through the turntable 52 for engagement withor disengagement from the center hole of the disk 6 has an upper ring102 which is adapted to engage the center hole of the disk 6, a lowerring 104 and legs 103 interconnecting the upper and lower rings 102 and104. The lower ring 104 rests upon a lift plate 107 which is verticallymovable and is normally biased upwardly under the forces of four springs106 loaded between the lift plate 107 and spring-retaining plates 105.An engaging pin 108 is extended from the lift plate 107 and engages oneend, which is bifurcated, of a lift lever 110 which is pivoted by apivot pin 109. The other end of the lift lever 110 is connected to anactuating cam 112 with a connecting link 111.

The actuating cam 112 is supported by pivot pins 113 for pivotalmovement in the direction as indicated by the arrow N or P in FIG. 4.The lift lever 110 has a cam-follower roller 114 which is rotatablymounted thereon at the position between the ends thereof for engagementwith an upright plate cam 116 extended from a horizontal plate cam 115which in turn is slidably in the directions indicated by the arrow Z bya drive means (not shown). Therefore, the engagement of the cam-followerroller 114 of the lift lever 110 with the upright plate cam 116 isdependent upon the position of the horizontal plate cam 115. The slidingplate 118, which activates the lower clamping arm 63 as previouslydescribed, has a pin slidably fitted into a cam groove 117 of thehorizontal plate cam 115 so that as the latter is moved in the directionU or V, the sliding plate 118 is caused to move in the directionindicated by the arrow X₁ or X₂.

Referring still to FIGS. 4 to 9, the mode of operation of thereproducing device with the above-described construction will beexplained. When the disk cartridge 1 is inserted through the cartridgeinsertion slot 55 into the reproducing device in such a manner that thecover 3 of the cartridge 1 is directed forward, the expansion arms 59,which are closed, enter the notches or recesses 19 of the cover 3 whilethe opening increasing mechanism 51 is moved in the direction indicatedby the arrow X₁ as the disk-cartridge 1 is pushed into the device 50.The positive entrance of the expansion arms 59 into the main body 2 isensured by the tapered portions 14 at the open front end of the mainbody (See FIG. 1). As the cartridge 1 is further pushed into thereproducing device 50, the opening increasing mechanism 51 is furthermoved toward the direction X₁, so that the expansion arms 59 are openedor spaced apart from each other to engage the engaging slots 12 of themain body 2, and consequently the front opening of the main body isincreased or expanded. Thereafter, the disk cartridge 1 is furtherpushed into the reproducing device 50 while its front opening ismaintained in the expanded or increased state. As previously describedthe main body 2 is formed with elongated guide grooves 17 so that onlylight force is needed to expand the front opening 7. The projections 24of the cover 3 are still in engagement with the engaging recesses 16 ofthe main body 2 (See FIG. 1) so that even when the disk cartridge 1 ispulled out of the reproducing device 50 at this stage, the cover 3 canmove in unison with the main body 2 and consequently the cover 3 aloneis prevented from being left in the reproducing device 50. When the diskcartridge 1 is further pushed into the device 50, a roller 119 which isattached to the opening increasing mechanism 51 (See FIG. 4) engages theactuating cam 112 to cause the latter to swing in the directionindicated by the arrow P. The rotation of the actuating cam 112 istransmitted through the connecting link 111 to the lift lever 110 sothat the lever 110 is caused to rotate in the direction indicated by thearrow R to lower the lift plate 107 against the springs 106; andconsequently the upper ring 102 of the disk positioning means is loweredbelow the upper surface of the turntable 52. As a result, furtherinsertion of the disk cartridge 1 is permitted. Under these conditions,the upright plate cam 116 is still maintained out of engagement from theroller 114 of the lift lever 110, so that the above-described rotationof the lift lever 110 is permitted. When the disk cartridge 1 is furtherpushed into the reproducing device 50 and consequently the openingincreasing mechanism 51 is further displaced in the direction X₁, therelease means 80 and 80a enter the disk cartridge 1 and engage thetapered ends 26 of the arms 25 of the cover 3 so that the arms 25 areforced to bend themselves transversely inward. As a consequence, theprojections 24 are disengaged from the recesses 16 of the main body 2and, therefore, the cover 3 is released from the main body 2.

In this case, the engaging member 92 (See also FIG. 5) is in theposition as shown in FIG. 7A; that is, it is out of the paths of theupper and lower beams 57 and 58. As the cover 3 is released from themain body 2, the front wall or flange portions 18 of the cover 3 pushthe pusher or pressure plates 77 and 77a (See FIG. 8) so that the pushlevers 72 and 72a are caused to rotate in the direction as indicated bythe arrow T, so that the locking pin 78 moves along the cam groove 83toward the L-shaped cam groove 83a thereof. Then, under the force of thespring 85a, the locking cam 85 is caused to rotate about its pivot pin81 in the direction indicated by the arrow H, so that the push levers 72and 72a are brought to and locked at predetermined positions. As thepush lever 72 (72a) is rotated, its pin 76, which is slidably fittedinto the cam groove 75 of the locking lever 70, causes the lever 70 torotate in the direction indicated by the arrow E and engage the recess19 of the cover 3 (See FIG. 8A), whereby the cover 3 is locked inposition.

As the locking cam 85 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrowH, the upper and lower clamping arms 64 and 63 clamp the disk 6 as shownin FIGS. 8A and 8B and are maintained in this clamping position becausethe engagement of the engaging projection 84 of the locking cam 85 withthe stopper pin 64c limits the rotation of the upper clamping arm 64 inthe direction indicated by the arrow C. Under these conditions, theengaging member 92 is brought to and maintained in the position as shownin FIG. 7B, but is out of engagement of the upper beam 57 of the mainbody 2; that is, the engaging member 92 will not prevent the movement ofthe upper beam 57 in the direction indicated by the arrow X₂.

Thereafter, the disk cartridge 1 is pulled out of the reproducing device50 in the direction indicated by the arrow X₂ (See FIG. 4). Then thecover 3 and the disk 6 remain in the reproducing device 50 while themain body 2 is pulled out of the device 50. That is, the disk 6 ispulled out of the main body 2. In this case, the front opening 7 of themain body 2 is still maintained in the increased or expanded state sothat any damage to the disk 6 due to the contact of the main body 2 withthe disk can be avoided. Immediately before the disk 6 is completelypulled out of the main body 2, the roller 119 of the opening increasingmechanism 51, which is pulled back together with the main body 2, isdisengaged from the actuating cam 112 so that the lift plate 107 iscaused to move upward under the forces of the springs 106 andconsequently the upper ring 102 of the disk positioning means engageswith the center hole of the disk 6. After the main body 2 is pulledcompletely out of the reproducing device 50, the cover 3 is maintainedin the locked position by the locking mechanism 54 and 54a while thedisk 6 is maintained at a predetermined play position by the clampingarms 63 and 64 and the upper ring 102 of the disk positioning means asshown in FIG. 8A. More specifically, the movement of the cover 3 whichis now clamped by the locking mechanism 54 and 54a is limited by theengagement of the front wall or flange portions 18 of the cover 3 withthe push or pressure plate 77 while the disk 6 is maintained in a stablemanner by the clamping arms 63 and 64 and by the upper ring 102.

Thereafter, a play button or the like (not shown) is depressed. Then,the drive means (not shown) causes the horizontal plate cam 115 in thedirection as indicated by the arrow U so that the sliding plate 118 iscaused to move in the direction as indicated by the arrow X₁ in themanner as described before. Therefore, the lower clamping arm 63, whichis connected to the sliding plate 118 through a connecting means (notshown), is caused to rotate in the direction as indicated by the arrowD. Concurrently, the upright plate cam 116, which extends from thehorizontal plate cam 115, engages the roller 114 of the lift lever 110,whereby as the horizontal plate cam 115 is displaced in the direction Uthe lift lever 110 is caused to rotate in the direction as indicated bythe arrow R. Thus, the clamping arms 63 and 64 release the disk 6 toplace it over the turntable 52.

Thereafter, the motor 100 is energized to drive the disk 6, whereby datarecorded on the disk 6 is reproduced.

Next, the mode of pulling the disk 6 out of the reproducing device 50after the completion of the reproduction will be described. In responseto the completion of the reproduction, the turntable 52 is automaticallystopped and then the horizontal plate cam 115 is caused to move in thedirection indicated by the arrow V, so that the roller 114 of the liftlever 110 is permitted to move upward along the cam profile edge of theupright plate cam 116 and as a consequence the lift lever 110 ispermitted to move upward under the forces of the springs 106. Thereforethe disk 6, which is still in engagement with the upper ring 102 of thedisk positioning means, is lifted away from the turntable 52.Concurrently, the sliding plate 118 is caused to move in the directionX2 so that the lower clamping arm 63, which is connected to the slidingplate 118, is caused to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow Cso as to again cooperate with the clamping arm 64 to clamp the disk 6,as shown in FIG. 8A.

Next, the main body 2, which is now empty, is again inserted into thereproducing device 50. Immediately before the main body 2 is completelyinserted, the upper beam 57 thereof engages the engaging member 92 asshown in FIG. 7B. When the main body 2 is further inserted, it causesthe release lever 87 to move in the direction M (See Fig. 5) through theengaging member 92, so that the link or auxiliary lever 90 is caused tomove in the direction indicated by the arrow J, and consequently thelocking cam 85 is caused to move in the direction indicated by the arrowI. Then the connecting pin 78 is released from the transverselyextending portion 83a of the L-shaped cam groove 83 of the locking cam85 and concurrently the engaging projection 84 thereof is released fromthe stopper pin 64c. Then, the push levers 72 and 72a are permitted,under the forces of bias springs (not shown), to return to their initialpositions while the clamping arms 63 and 64 release the disk 6 to permitit to be retained in the main body 2. When the main body 2 is pulled outin the direction X₂, the disk 6, which is now inserted and retained inthe main body 2, and the cover 3, which is now engaged again with themain body 2, can be pulled out of the reproducing device 50 togetherwith the main body 2. The re-attachment or re-engagement of the cover 3with the main body 2 is performed in reverse to the detachment describedabove.

The disk cartridge 1 and the reproducing device 50 described above havesome problems as described below.

FIG. 9 shows the main body 2 being pulled out of the reproducing device50 through the cartridge insertion slot 55 after the disk 6 has beenclamped by the clamping mechanism 53 in the manner described above. Ingeneral, the insertion or withdrawal of the disk cartridge 1 is manuallyperformed, so that the disk cartridge 1 cannot be inserted into orpulled out of the reproducing device 50 under ideal conditions. As aresult, the insertion or withdrawal of the cartridge 1 frequentlyadversely affects the proper operations of the mechanisms describedabove. When the disk cartridge 1 is pulled out of the reproducing device50 after the disk 6 has been set in position in the manner describedabove, the main body 2 is frequently bent upwardly as shown in FIG. 9.Bending of the main body 2 causes frictional contacts between the mainbody 2 and the groove guard 6a, which is formed along the rim of thedisk 6 and projects upwardly and downwardly from the recording surfacesthereof, so that relatively strong pulling forces are exerted upon thedisk 6 and consequently the disk 6; is forced to be released from theclamping mechanism 53. As a result, the naked or unprotected disk 6 ispulled out of the reproducing device 50 so that the data or informationrecording surfaces of the disk 6 are brought into contact with otherparts and consequently are severely damaged. In some cases, themechanisms of the reproducing device 50 are also damaged. In order tosolve these problems, there have been proposed various improvements bothin material and shape of the clamping arms 63 and 64 and their clampingpads 63a and 64b, but so far such suggested improvements have beenunsuccessful in providing sufficient forces to clamp or retain the disk6 while the empty main body 2 is being pulled out of the reproducingdevice 50.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 10 to 13B show first to fifth preferred embodiments, respectively,of the present invention and FIGS. 14 to 18B are views used to explainin detail the mode of operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 10 illustrating a first embodiment of the presentinvention, a disk 6 is shown by the solid lines as being clamped by twofingers 120 and 121 while the released disk 6 is shown by the two-dottedchain lines. A clamping mechanism comprises a support or base 122 andcranks 123 and 124 to which are pivotably connected with pivot pins 128and 129 the fingers 120 and 121. One end of each of the cranks 123 and124 pivotably connected with respective ones of pivot pins 127 and 130to the support 122. The support 122 is formed with a longitudinallyextending guide groove 125 into which a pivot pin M26 is slidablyfitted; which pivot pin pivotably interconnects the fingers orconnecting rods 120 and 121 with each other. Therefore, the clampingmechanism comprises a five-bar linkage which is symmetrical about thehorizontal line passing through the axis of the pivot pin 126; that is,a combination of two four-bar linkages. The parts are rotated anddisplaced in the directions indicated by the arrows A when the clampingmechanism clamps the disk 6, and in the opposite directions as indicatedby the arrows B when the disk 6 is released. The loci described by thefree ends of the fingers 120 and 121 are indicated by two-dot-chain-linecurves. It is seen that the free ends of the fingers 120 and 121gradually approach toward the plane containing the disk 6 as the cranks123 and 124 rotate in the directions A. A bias spring 133 is loadedbetween the upper crank 123 and the support 122 in such a way that thecranks 123 and 124 and the fingers 120 and 121 are normally rotated anddisplaced in the directions A, and consequently the clamping orarresting surfaces 134 and 135 of the fingers 120 and 121 exert suitableclamping pressures P against the groove guard 6a of the disk 6.

When a force is exerted on the disk 6 so as to pull the same in thedirection indicated by a white arrow, the guard 6a engages theprojections 131 and 132 of the fingers 120 and 121 so that the pullingforce is transmitted to the clamping mechanism, and consequently theclamping mechanism exerts further clamping forces upon the disk. Thatis, the pulling force causes the fingers 120 and 121 and the cranks 123and 124 to rotate further in the directions A. Thus, it becomesimpossible to withdraw the disk 6 from the clamping mechanism, even whena pulling force is applied to the disk 6. More specifically, even if thebending force exerted on the main body 2 is transmitted to the disk 6 asa pulling force, the disk 6 is held in position by the clampingmechanism.

To release a disk 6, the releasing force is applied to the pivot pin 126so as to displace it in the direction B, so that the fingers 120 and 121are retracted away from the disk 1 to the positions indicated by thetwo-dot-chain lines.

FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of the present invention which isbased on a principle similar to that of the first embodiment describedabove. As with the first embodiment, as the free ends of fingers 136 and137 approach toward the disk cartridge insertion slot or toward the disk6, they move toward the center plane; that is, the plane containing thediameter of the disk 6. Furthermore, like the first embodiment, theclamping forces are enhanced if a pulling force is exerted on the disk6, because of the reason previously described.

One ends of each cranks 140, 141, 142 and 143 is pivotably connectedwith pivot pins 140a, 141a, 142a and 143a, respectively, to a support orbase 146 while the other end of each of the cranks 140 and 142 ispivotably connected with pivot pins 140b and 142b respectively, to theupper finger 136; and, in like manner, the other ends of the cranks 141and 143 are pivotably connected with pivot pins 141b and 143b,respectively, to the lower finger 137. A bias spring 144 is loadedbetween the support 146 and the crank 140 in such a way that the crank140 is normally biased in the direction A under the torque α. In likemanner, a bias spring 145 is loaded between the support 146 and thecrank 141 in such a way that the crank 141 is normally biased in thedirection B under the torque β; the torque α being greater than thetorque β. A roller 138 is rotatably supported by a bearing extendingfrom the lower finger 137 and is normally maintained in contact with arod 139 depending from the upper finger 136 under the forces of the biassprings 144 and 145. Therefore the movements of the upper and lowerfingers 136 and 137 are always symmetrical about the horizontal plane;that is, the extension of the center plane of the disk 6. The cranks 140to 143 are subjected to forces which are equal to the difference betweentorque α and β so that they are normally biased in the directions A.

Because of the above-described linkage, the free ends of the upper andlower fingers 136 and 137 describe the two-dot-chain-line curves, as inthe case of the first embodiment. That is, the upper and lower fingers136 and 137 are normally so biased that they are moved toward each otherand hence toward the center plane of the disk 6. Therefore, the secondembodiment has the same features as the first embodiment shown in FIG.10.

FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment of the present invention in which, aswith the first or second embodiment described above, if a pulling forceis exerted on the disk 6 which has been already clamped in position, theclamping forces P are further increased because the free ends of upperand lower fingers 147 and 148 are forced to move toward each other and,therefore, toward the center plane of the disk 6 as indicated by thetwo-dot-chain lines, because of the provision of tapered surfaces 149and 150. The tapered surfaces 149 and 150 are in opposed relationshipand converge at an angle toward the disk 6. A pin 151 extending from thelower finger 148 is slidably fitted into an elongated groove 152 formedin the upper finger 147, so that the upper and lower fingers areinterconnected to each other even when they are caused to slide inintimate contact with their corresponding or mating tapered surfaces 149and 150, respectively. In addition, a bias spring 152a is loaded betweenthe upper finger 147 and a stationary part (shown as a hatched portion)so that the upper and lower fingers 147 and 148 are normally biased inthe direction A. As previously described, the free ends of the upper andlower fingers 147 and 148 describe the loci indicated by thetwo-dot-chain lines, and the third embodiment has the same effects andfeatures as the first embodiment described before with reference to FIG.10.

FIG. 13A shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention whichutilizes a four-bar linkage similar to the lower half of the five-barlinkage used in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 10. An upper finger153 is formed integral with or otherwise rigidly connected to a base orsupport 156. The operation of a lower finger 154 is similar to that ofthe finger 131 of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 10. One end of acrank 155 is pivotably connected with a pivot pin 155a to a support 156,while the other end thereof is connected to the lower finger 154 with apivot pin 155b. A pin 157 extends from the lower finger 154 and isslidably fitted into an elongated slot 158 formed in the support 156. Abias spring 159 is loaded between the crank 155 and the support 156, sothat the lower finger 154 is normally biased in the direction A.

The free end of the lower finger 154 also describes the locus asindicated by the two-dot-chain line. That is, when the lower finger 154is forced to move in the direction A, its free end moves toward that ofthe upper arm 153 and thus the center plane of the disk 6. It followstherefore that, as in the case of the first, second and thirdembodiments described with reference to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12,respectively, if a pulling force is exerted on the disk 6, the clampingforces exerted on the disk 6 are further increased.

In the fourth embodiment, the upper finger 153 which coacts with thelower finger 154 has been described as being stationary, but it isapparent that the fourth embodiment has the same effects and features asthe first or second embodiment described with reference to FIG. 10 or11. It is also apparent from the foregoing description that one of theupper and lower fingers in the second or third embodiment can be heldstationary.

In the first to fourth embodiments as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, the upperand lower fingers are normally imparted with the clamping forces, and ifa pulling force is exerted on the clamped disk 6, the clamping forcesare further increased; but it is to be understood that the presentinvention is not limited to such arrangements as described above and canbe modified as will be described below.

For instance, according to the present invention, the pulling forceexerted on the disk 6 can be inverted and transmitted to the fingers sothat the clamping forces can be further enhanced.

For example, FIG. 13B shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention,in which upper and lower fingers 161 and 162 are pivotably connected toeach other with a pivot pin 163 and have projections 168 and 169,respectively, at first ends thereof. The other ends of the upper andlower fingers 161 and 162 are tapered as indicated by 166 and 167,respectively, and about a wedge-shaped member 170 whose included angleis substantially equal to that between the upper and lower taperedsurfaces 166 and 167. The pivot pin 163 is slidably fitted into anelongated slot 164 formed in a support or bracket 165, bracket which inturn is securely attached to a chassis (not shown).

When a pulling force is exerted on the disk 6, the upper and lowerfingers 161 and 162 are forced to move in the direction A andconsequently the tapered surfaces 166 and 167, which are in contact withthe tapered surfaces of the wedge-shaped member 170, are caused to moveapart from each other in the directions B. As a result, the free ends ofthe upper and lower fingers 161 and 162 are forced to move toward eachother in the directions C so that they can more strongly clamp thegroove guard 6a of the disk 6.

In the first and second embodiments, the upper and lower fingers havebeen described as being pivoted to their respective cranks with thepivot pins; and in the fourth embodiment as shown in FIG. 13A, the upperend of the crank 155 has been described as being pivoted to the lowerfinger 154 with the pivot pin 155b. However, the present invention isnot limited to the pin joints as described above, and other joints maybe employed as needs demand. For instance, the fingers can be madeintegral with the cranks or the fingers can be so attached to the cranksthat the former slide relative to the latter.

In the third embodiment as shown in FIG. 12, the loci of the free endsof the upper and lower fingers 147 and 148 are determined by the taperedsurfaces 149 and 150, but it is also to be understood that the presentinvention is not limited to this arrangement and that othermodifications can be effected. For instance, guide rails can be employedso as to confine the movements of the upper and lower fingers 147 and148.

The mode of operation of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 10 willbe described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 14 to 18B.FIG. 14 shows the first embodiment of the invention, applied to as adisk reproducing device of the type previously described.

FIG. 15 shows that the main body 2, with the disk 6 enclosed therein, isinserted into the reproducing device and the open front end of the mainbody is being expanded by the upper and lower beams 57 and 58 of theopening increasing mechanism. Since a release rod 160 which is carriedby the push lever 72a is interposed between the pivot pins 128 and 129,the upper and lower fingers 120 and 121 are maintained in spaced apartrelationship. Therefore, the upper and lower fingers 120 and 121 caneasily extend themselves through the cover 3 into the main body 2 so asto clamp the disk 6. When the main body 2 is further inserted, the pushlevers 72 and 72a are retracted so that the release rod 160 is releasedfrom the pivot pins 128 and 129 as shown in FIG. 16. Then the upper andlower fingers 120 and 121 firmly grip the disk 6. As already describedwith reference to FIG. 10, even if a pulling force is exerted on thedisk 6, the disk is retained in position by the clamping upper and lowerfingers 120 and 121. Thus, the present invention has succeeded incompletely solving the problem that if the disk cartridge is notcorrectly pulled out from the reproducing device, the inserted disk 6 ispulled out from the clamping arms.

In response to the depression of a play button or the like, a motor (notshown) is energized to rotate the crank 123 in the direction indicatedby the arrow C in FIG. 17, so that the upper and lower fingers 120 and121 are moved away from each other and hence the disk 6 is placed uponthe turntable 52 in the manner previously described.

After the completion of the reproduction, the crank 123 is rotated inthe direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow C, while the disk6 is raised off the turntable 52 so that the upper and lower fingers 120and 121 again firmly grip the disk 6 as shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18A is a view, as seen from one side of the disk clampingmechanism, illustrating the empty main body 2 inserted so as to recoverthe reproduced disk 6; and FIG. 18B is a view similar to that of FIG.18A but seen from the other side. Immediately before the completeinsertion of the main body 2, the upper beam 57 thereof engages theengaging member 92 as previously described; and when the main body 2 isfurther inserted, the release lever 87 is caused to rotate in thedirection indicated by the arrow E through the engaging member 92 andpush the connecting pin 126 in the direction indicated by the arrow F.Then the upper and lower fingers 120 and 121 and the cranks 123 and 124are caused to rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows G, sothat the disk 6 is released from the clamping fingers 120 and 121 asshown in FIG. 18B.

Concurrently, the push levers 72 and 72a are returned to their initialpositions in the manner previously described, so that the release rod160 is again pushed between the pivot pins 128 and 129, and consequentlythe upper and lower fingers 120 and 121 are moved away from each other,releasing the disk 6 as shown in FIG. 15. Therefore the disk 6 can nowbe completely enclosed in the main body 2. When the main body 2 ispulled out of the reproducing device, the cover 3 and the disk 6 arealso pulled out together with the main body 2, in the manner previouslydescribed.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the presentinvention can be readily applied to existing disk recording andreproducing devices of the type described by merely replacing the diskclamping mechanisms, whereby the disk recording and reproducing devicescan be made more reliable and dependable in operation.

More specifically, even when, as shown in FIG. 9, the empty main body isseverely bent as it is pulled out of the reproducing device after thedisk has been set in the play position, so that a strong pulling forceis exerted on the disk, the disk clamping mechanism of the presentinvention can increase the clamping forces in response to an increase inthe pulling force; and consequently the withdrawal of the disk from thedisk clamping mechanism can be prevented.

In addition, even when the disks vary in thickness and shape of thegroove guards, the disk clamping mechanisms of the present invention canexert suitable clamping forces on the disks. Furthermore, as previouslydescribed, the stronger the pulling force exerted on the disk, thestronger the clamping forces become. As a result, close dimensionaltolerances of the parts are not needed to provide positive clampingforces, so that the present invention is adapted for mass production.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a disk recording and reproducing device of thetype having a disk insertion opening, wherein in response to theoperation of inserting a case housing a disk through said disk insertionopening into said device, disk clamping means clamps a region adjacentthe outer edge of said disk, and when said case is withdrawn from saiddevice through said disk insertion opening, said disk is withdrawn outof said case,the improvement wherein said disk clamping means comprises:a first finger having a leading edge and extending in a direction ofmovement of said case through said disk insertion opening, the leadingedge of said first finger having a first clamping member adapted toengage one major surface of a disk adjacent the periphery thereof; asecond finger having a leading edge and extending in said direction, theleading edge of said second finger having a second clamping memberadjacent said first clamping member and adapted to coact with said firstclamping member so as to forcibly hold said disk therebetween, the otherend of said second finger being movable in said direction of movement ofsaid case through said disk insertion opening, said second clampingmember being connected to a stationary member in such a way that saidsecond clamping member can rotatably and longitudinally move toward andaway from said first clamping member; an arm having one end rotatablypivoted to said stationary member, so that when said second finger iscaused to move in the direction in which said case is withdrawn, saidsecond clamping member moves toward said first clamping member, theother end of said arm being rotatably coupled to said second finger; aleaf spring means for biasing said arm so that said second clampingmember approaches said first clamping member; separation means forseparating said first clamping member from said second clamping memberwhen said separation means is released and releasing means responsive tothe initial insertion of said case through said disk insertion openingfor releasing said separation means.
 2. The improvement according toclaim 1, wherein said first finger is securely fastened to a stationarymember.
 3. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said clampingmembers coact to forcibly hold a groove guard protruding from theperiphery of said disk, the end of said first finger remote from saidfirst clamping member being rotatably held by the stationary member insuch a way that said finger end is slidable in the direction in whichthe case is inserted or withdrawn, and said first clamping member movestoward and away from said second clamping member; further comprising asecond arm having one end rotatably fixed with a third pin to saidstationary member and another end rotatably fixed with a fourth pin tosaid first finger, in such a way that when said second finger isslidably moved in the direction in which said case is inserted orwithdrawn, said second clamping member moves toward and away from saidfirst clamping member; and a spring for biasing said second arm in sucha way that the contact surface of said first finger moves toward thecontact surface of said second finger.
 4. A disk recording andreproducing device of the type having a disk insertion opening, whereinin response to the operation of inserting a case housing a disk thereininto said device through said disk insertion opening, said disk having agroove guard adjacent the outer edge thereof, disk clamping means clampssaid groove guard, and when said case is withdrawn from said devicethrough said disk insertion opening, said disk is withdrawn out of saidcase, wherein said disk clamping means comprises:first and secondfingers each having a leading end and a clamping member at each saidleading end, each of said fingers extending along a direction ofmovement of said case through said disk insertion opening; a stationarymember; first and second arms each having a first end rotatablysupported by said stationary member and a second end rotatably coupledto said first finger so that when said first and second fingers move inthe direction in which said case is withdrawn, said clamping membersmove toward each other; third and fourth arms each having a first endpivoted to said stationary member and a second end pivotably coupled tosaid second finger; spring means for biasing said first arm in thedirection in which the clamping members of said fingers move toward eachother; separation means for causing said fingers to move away from eachother against the action of said spring when said separation means isreleased; and means responsive to an initial insertion of said casethrough said disk insertion opening for releasing said separation means.5. A disk recording and reproducing device of the type having a diskinsertion opening, wherein in response to the operation of inserting acase containing a disk through said disk insertion opening into saiddevice, said disk having a groove guard adjacent the periphery thereof,disk clamping means clamps a groove guard formed at the outer edge ofsaid disk, and when said case is withdrawn from said device through saidinsertion opening, said disk is withdrawn out of said case, wherein saiddisk clamping means comprises:cam means comprising inclined surfaceswhich diverge in the direction in which said case is inserted throughsaid disk insertion opening; and first and second fingers disposed onopposite sides of said disk insertion opening and having leading endswith contact surfaces adapted to make contact with the groove guard ofsaid disk and forcibly clamp said disk, said fingers being slidablymovable along said inclined surfaces and being interconnected with eachother so that said fingers are rotatable with respect to each other andmovable toward or away from each other.
 6. A disk recording andreproducing device of the type having a disk insertion opening, whereinin response to the insertion of a case housing therein a disk throughsaid disk insertion opening into said device, said disk having a grooveguard adjacent the periphery thereof, disk clamping means clamps agroove guard formed at the outer edge of said disk, and when said caseis withdrawn from said device through said disk insertion opening, saiddisk is withdrawn out of said case, wherein said disk clamping meanscomprises:a first finger extending in a direction of movement of saidcase through said disk insertion opening; a stationary member; a secondfinger having a leading end and a contact surface at said leading endadapted to be urged toward said first finger so as to forcibly hold saidgroove guard between said contact surface and said first finger, saidsecond finger being pivotably fixed to said stationary member so thatsaid contact surface may move toward or away from said first fingerwhile simultaneously moving in the direction in which said case iswithdrawn; and a control member connected to said second finger forcontrolling the motion of said second finger so that when said secondfinger moves in the direction in which said case is withdrawn, saidcontact surface moves toward said first finger.
 7. A disk recording andreproducing device as set forth in claim 6, whereinsaid first finger issecurely fixed to said stationary member.
 8. A disk recording andreproducing device as set forth in claim 6, whereinsaid first finger hasat its leading end a contact surface adapted to contact with the grooveguard of said disk and to coact with said second finger so as toforcibly hold said groove guard, said first finger being movable in thedirection in which said case is inserted and withdrawn, said contactsurface being pivotably carried by said stationary member in such A waythat said contact surface moves toward or away from said first finger;and another member coupled to said second finger for causing said secondfinger to slide in the direction in which said case is withdrawn, sothat said contact surface moves toward said first finger.